As
a youngster, Hirschman was in the pits watching his father, Tony Hirschman,
race and win many an “Open Show”. Since then he has gone forward to build a
name of his own in modified racing, particularly in the Race of Champion (RoC)
series. “I grew up going to these races with my dad,” said Hirschman after
the victory. “And it was not just him. I was here tonight with Mario as I
was back in the eighties or nineties. Then there were a lot of good paying
shows throughout the whole year. Those drivers and teams were money racers
and back then there was a lot there to win. Unfortunately we do not have
that many races any more with shows like this where the money is raised and
people put into it.”

Hirschman was able to come from the rear of the field back to the lead after
a pit stop. His team had a strategy and they all executed it as planned. “I
came here tonight on a mission. I felt that I had something to prove tonight
and this is a good statement for the team and especially for myself. I
wanted to real bad tonight and I came here bound and determined to do it and
we definitely earned it. It was not easy. We got out front early but then we
ended up pitting and coming back and winning it. It was hard earned and well
deserved. I think that everybody on this team here put a good effort here
into this race and it paid off. I am really happy.”

Ryan
Preece never gave up when the black flag flew for his car dumping fluid on
the track. He was running with the leaders and the last thing he wanted to
do was head to the pits. But luck was on his side when a caution flew giving
his crew time to regroup and recover. “We were overheating a little bit. The
fan on the radiator blew a fuse and then it was not running. The way that
short tracks are you really need a fan to keep it cool. Just when it looked
like we were not getting out, another caution came out and we kept working
at it (#40 car). We found the fuse and changed it.”

Changing the fuse and returning to the race was a move that earned the
Preece team a second place finish. Not bad for a driver who had been almost
ruled out of the race. “We got back out there and kind of rode around
picking off spots when we could. Then everything just worked in our favor. I
am really happy for a second right now. I am happy for my dad and mom and my
family, because this is out of our own pocket. So every time that we can go
out and run well, we pay the bills by where we finish. It really helps a
lot.”
Bringing car home in one piece was the goal of all cars competing in the SBM
125. Piloting the family car, Preece ran to win while keeping the tires on
the car. “I am just happy that the car is in one piece and it was a lot of
fun. This race was awesome. I just have to thank Kevin Rice, Jim Schaefer
and Bill Webber for putting this show on. It takes a lot to put a show on
like this. It takes a lot of money put up front. To be able to do this and
be able to draw all the modifieds it really shows that they are doing
something right.”

Star
track champion, Josh Cantara, used his track experience to find his way to
the front of the field. Once there he ran lap after lap with the leaders
holding on for a podium finish. “The race was awesome. Competing with all
these guys is a lot of fun and to say that we got a top three is great. What
helped was that we already knew the basic setup. Running their tour tires
though kind of messed us up a little bit. But we got use to it.” During the
ending laps Cantara passed modified champion Mike Stefanik and continued his
charge forward. He had saved his car and was ready for more racing when the
checkers flew. “I was hoping the race was 150 laps at the end.”

The Star Speedway “Open Show” was nostalgic for those who lived through the
legendary times of modified racing. And just like then, teams and fans left
the race with the urge for more. Winner Matt Hirschman had words that
expressed it best: “There were some quality teams and drivers here tonight.
What I like about the “Open Shows” is that you get a mix of different guys
from different places that do not race together all the time. I wish there
were a lot more shows like this. The open show, no matter how few there are,
are still a throwback to probably the best days that this division has had.
And I certainly wish there was more of them. I am going to support the ones
that there are because these are good nights. ”

“I really enjoy these open shows. The next one will be Seekonk with “Open
Wheel Wednesday “and that is going to be a fun night. I hope that the fans
come out and I appreciate the effort that people take to put these shows
on.” Thanks Matt.

So place Wednesday, July 18th on your calendars for the next modified “Open
Show” at Seekonk Speedway with $10,000 on the line to win!